Index device



July l5, E952 c. E. JONES INDEX DEVICE Filed Dec. 27, 1948 IN V EN TOR. 7mm/e6 Jamai Patented July 15, l952 INDEX DEVICE Charles E. Jones, Chicago, Ill., assignor to 'Rockwell-Barnes Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application December 27, 194s, serial No. 67,403 n 7 Claims. (Cl. 12S-16.7)

Tlris invention relates to correspondence fold- Y ers or like filing devices and has particular reference to a follow-up folder which is provided with a reference index disposed in a visible manner along a top marginal edge thereof.

It is a general objectof the present invention to provide a file folderY or similar device having an improved marginal construction for providing thereon reference-characters of various kinds and including a movable signal or indicator device for cooperation therewith. Y

It is a more specific object of the invention to provide a le folder having an edge reinforcing strip ofl transparent extruded plastic material which is provided with an axially extending slot or recess, the edge of the folder projecting into the recess and being providedlwith indicia on the surface thereof which is visible through the stripand the recess in the strip providing a guideway for receiving an apertured' indicator member adapted to be movable along the strip for selective positioning relative'to the indicia.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from a vconsideration of thel le folder construction which is shown by way of illustration in the accompanying drawings, wherein: v

Fig. 1 is a view inside elevation withportions broken away of a le folder incorporating therein the principles of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view to an enlarged scale of an end portion of the folder;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view to an enlarged scale, taken on the line indicated at 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view to an enlarged scale of the movable indicator member; and

Fig. 5 is a view' similar to Fig. 3 but showing a modification. Y A

It has been customary heretofore to retain and file correspondence or like commercial documents in a cardboard folder provided with means projecting along an' upper Ymargin on which may be notedsuitable reference or file indications. In the simplestv form these folders have consisted of a sheet of cardboard folded upon itself to provide a pair of leaves between which letters or the like could be placed and having one marginal edge projecting above the other and provided with an upwardly projecting tab upon which reference characters could be placed. In other forms reference data has been printed along the margin of the' folder and movable clips or indicators have been attached thereto which may be positioned along the edge of the folder for A2- numerous purposes and various indexing systems as, for example, in fixing dates for follow-up letters in advertizing or similar types of correspondence. f

Referring to the file folder shown in Figs. 1 to 4 of the drawings, there is illustrated a correspondence file folder of the general type referred to which incorporates a movable indicator member and whichA embodies the principles of the invention.

The illustrated folder comprisesia rectangular blank of relatively stiff .paper or similar sheet material I9 which is foldedalong transverse lines to provide two flaps' II and I2. The flaps II and I2 may be referred to as major and minor flaps, respectively, the major flap II beingofygreater area than the minor ap I2 so thatl it extends at its upper margins I3L'abovev the top `margin of the minor ap I2. AIn this manner the upper marginal portion I3 of the major flap I I is always visible above the upper margin of the 'minor flap I2.

A transparent reinforcing and guideway forming strip member I4 is arranged along the upper marginal portion I3 of the major iiap II. The bodyY of the strip- Vmember I4 is generally U- shaped in cross section providing front an'd rear legs I5 and I6, the rear leg I6 being somewhat shorter than the front leg I5. The bottom or bight portion Il which connects the legs I5 and I6 is provided with a downwardly extending lip or flange which ris adapted to receive staples I8 or other fastening means vfor securing the strip I4 to the flap I I at a predetermined spaced distance from the top marginal edge of the flap II. The legs I5 and IB are spaced from each other by an axially extending slot or recess I9 forming a guideway which also receives the end portion 2i] of the top margin I3 of the flap II,`the end portion 20 being folded over in"'encompassingrelation with thev leg I6 of the strip I4 and extending down into the recessv I9. {The end fp'ortion 20 of nap I I is divided into a plurality of spaces 2l for a series of numerals 22 forming an'index. In the illustrated form the spaces 2| extend from the right side edgetowards the left and'arensufficient in number to provide a space for a numeral 22 for each day of the month and also sufiicientv space 23 adjacent the left 'edge to accommodate other filing information or an index slip carrying thereon any desired filing information or identication. l '-v v '.Ihe front-leg I5 ofthe strip I4 is provided at its top edgey with 'a-vrearwardly directed ange portion 25 which terminates'in'an rupwardly di'- rected portion 26. The flange portion 25 extends over the guideway forming recess I9 between the legs I5 and I6. The recess I9 and the strip portions and 26 provide a guide channel for a movable indicator member 21 which is adapted to be mounted therein to slide along the strip member I4.

The movable indicator member 21 is characterized by a generally rectangular vertical body portion 28 which is proportioned to be received between the legs I5 and IB and which is suiciently thin to accommodate also in the recess I9 the folded over end portion 2D of the flap member I I with the indicator body portion 28 infront of the end portion 20 and the rear leg of the strip I4. The body portion 28 of the indicator member 21 is provided with a central aperture29 arranged to outline individual numerals 22 in the index when properly positioned relative thereto. At its top edge the body portion 28 joins a rearwardly extending flange portion 30 which terminates in an upwardly directed 'portion 31 the top of which serves as a gripping member for sliding the indicator member along the strip I4. A forwardly and downwardly extending lip 32 is provided on the top portion 3| which serves to interlock the indicator member 21 with the flange portion 26 of the strip member I4 and which rides in the groove formed'by the angularly related portions 25 and 26. may be inserted in the recess I9 in the strip membei' I4' from either end of the file folder. The strip member I4 serves as a reinforcement for the top of the file and also as a guideway and supporting means Yfor the movable indicator member 21.

The use of the indicator member 21 on the file folder will be apparent from the description of the structure of the same. It is movable along the strip vI4 to position it at any desired day of the month to indicate when the file is to be examined for any particular purpose.

In Fig. 5 there Vis illustrated a modified form of the'invention in which the body of the strip member 40 is U-shaped in section providing laterally spaced parallel rear and front legs 4| and 42 which 'are connected at the bottom by a bight portion 43. A li'p portion 44 projects downwardly at an angle to the rear leg 4I and is attached to the flap member 45 by staples 46 or similar fastening means. The marginal portion 41 of the flap 45 is folded around the rear leg 4 I. The front leg 42 extends upwardly somewhat farther than the corresponding leg in the previously described form Yof the device and a rearwardly extending flange portion 48 is'provided which is spaced from'the top edge of the rear leg 42. The nange portion 48 terminates in an upwardly extending lip or flanged which cooperates with the top portion 50 ofthe front leg 42 to provide a guide- Way forming recessv 5l therebetween.

A movable indicator member 52 is provided having a body portion-53 which is proportioned to be received in the axially extending recess 54 between the legs 4I and 42 and which is centrally apertured at 55. The body portion 53 terminates at the top in a rearwardly extending flange 56. The flange 56 of the member 52 terminates in an upwardly extending wall 51 the top portion 58 of which serves as a gripping means for moving the member 52. The top portion 58 is enlarged in a forward direction extending to the top portion 50 of the leg 42 and is provided with a downwardly projecting rib 59 which is received in the space 5I between the portions wand 50 on the The movable indicator member 21 n ypermits the index numerals 22 to be visible through the forward leg of the same. The strip members and the movable indicator members may be of contrasting colors so that the latter are more easily located.

Whilespeciflc details of construction and particular materials have been referred to in describing the illustrated forms of the invention, it will be understood that other details of construction and other materials may be resorted to within the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A correspondence folder formed of a length of'sheet material folded to provide major and minor flaps, said major flap having a marginal portion extending beyond the end of the minor flap and provided with a series of indicia thereon, a transparent edge reinforcing and guide forming member secured adjacent the marginal portion of said major nap, said member having a body portion which is generally U-shaped in cross section and which provides an axially extending recess, the marginal portion of said major flap being reversely folded over one leg of said member to position the indicia in said recess, and an apertured indicator member positioned in sliding relation in said recess.

2. In combination, a file folder having a marginal portion provided with indicia thereon, an edge reinforcing member secured to said folder. said reinforcing member having axially extending rearwardly opening and upwardly opening slots, the indicia' bearing margin of the folder being reversely folded into the rearwardly opening slot, and an indicator member, said indicator member having a plate-like portion received in said rearwardly lopening slot and a rib-like portion received in said upwardly opening slot, said indicator member being movable on said reinforcing member -and having means on said platelike portion for selectively framing individual indicia on the folded marginal portion of said folder.

3. A correspondence folder formed of a length of sheet material folded to provide major and minor flaps, said major flap having a marginal portion extending beyond the end of the minor flap and provided with a series of indicia thereon, a transparent edge reinforcing and guide forming member secured adjacent the marginal portion of said major flap. said member having a body portion which vis generally U-shaped in cross section, and which provides an axially extending recess, the marginal portion of said major flap being reversely folded over one leg of said member to position the indicia in said recess, the other leg of said member having a rib-like extension thereon which projects lateral- -ly of the free end thereof, and an indicator member having an axial recess for receiving said extension whereby to secure said indicator member in sliding relation thereon.

4. A file folder of sheet material having a marginal portion provided with a series of indicia thereon, a transparent edge reinforcing and guide forming member having a body portion which is generally rectangular in cross section, said reinforcing and guide forming member being provided with an axially extending recess and a rearwardly opening slot extending axially along a top margin communicating with said recess, said reinforcing member being secured to said folder with the rear face thereof positioned along the top margin thereof and with the indicia bearing marginal portion folded over the edge defining one side of the rearwardly opening slot and into said recess, an indicator member having an apertured portion positioned in sliding relation in said recess and a connecting -portion extending through the rearwardly opening slot and above said reinforcing member, and having its rear face substantially iiush with the rear face of said folder.

5. In combination, a file folder having a marginal portion provided with indicia thereon, a strip-like edge reinforcing member of generally rectangular cross section secured along said marginal portion of said folder, said edge reinforcing member being transparent and having a rearwardly opening axially extending slot in the body thereof, said slot having a cross section corresponding generally to the shape of an inverted L, the indicia bearing margin being folded over a longitudinal edge defining the rearward opening and inwardly of the folder .with the indicia positioned thereon so that it is visible through the front face of the strip, and an indicator member movable on said edge reinforcing member and having a portion thereof extending through said opening into the slot, said portion being arranged for selectively framing individual indicia on said indicia bearing margin of the folder.

6. In combination, a lle folder having a marginal portion provided with indicia thereon, an edge reinforcing strip secured to said folder, said strip having an axially extending recess provided with a communicating rearwardly opening slot, the indici-a bearing margin of the folder being reversely folded over an edge portion defining the rearwardly opening slot, an upwardly extending rib formation on said strip, an indicator member, said indicator member having a plate-like portion received in said axially extending recess and an integral top portion having a downwardly facing axially extending recess, said indicator member being movable on said strip with said rib formation on said strip extending into the recess in said indicator member and said indicator member having means on said plate-like portion for selectively framing individualindicia on the reversely folded marginal portion of said y folder.

7,. A file member formed of sheet material having a marginal portion provided with a series of indicia thereon, a transparent edge reinforcing and guide forming member secured adjacent said marginal portion, said edge member having a body portion which is generally U-shaped in cross section, and which provides an axially extending recess, the marginal portion of said le member being reversely folded over one leg of said edge member to position the indicia carrying portion thereof in said recess, the other leg of said member having a rib-like extension thereon which projects rearwardly and upwardly of the free end thereof, and an indicator member having an axial recess opening on the forward face thereof for receiving said extension and a downwardly extending apertured plate portion extending into the axial recess in said body portion whereby tosecure said indicator member in sliding indicia forming relation there- CHARLES E. J ONES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,645,598 Johnston Oct. 18, 1927 1,866,353 Hutchings July 5, 1932 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 176,645 Switzerland July 1, 1935 663,926 Germany Aug. 17, 1938 

